Chapter 26

The next morning Zixi appeared as if she'd been waiting for the dragon to leave. The King and Queen quickly explained the situation and wanted to know how she'd like to get her troops back home; the way they had come now destroyed. Surprisingly, Zixi didn't seem all that worried about it and asked to speak to Elphaba and Glinda. Tahir and Ayla agreed that perhaps with three capable of magic, they would find a way.

"Prince Fiyero, may I borrow you for a moment?" Lieutenant Balfour asked. The Prince was out at the entrance to the lower town, overseeing the movement of the good people of the capital back to their homes.

"We're almost done with the emptying of the Palace grounds. Meet me by the stables in twenty?" Fiyero wondered.

"See you then," Balfour nodded and headed away from the crowds of people. As he neared the stables, he saw that Altan and his family were getting ready to leave themselves.

"Ah Lieutenant, it is good to see you," Altan smiled.

"Same to you. Leaving the Vinkus so soon?" Balfour asked.

"The King and Queen have offered to let us remain here if we so wish. However, our community is in Ix. I have been told that I may offer to any who wish to move to the Vinkus that they are welcome. What about you? Will you and Lady Glinda be heading back to the Emerald City soon?" The elder Griffin wondered.

"We will. I believe we are taking the prisoner with us so that the entire of Oz sees what happens to those who threaten our way of life," the Lieutenant said.

"Oh somehow I'm sure the appearance of the dragon pretty much seals the deal. No one will think to cross the Princess with a dragon on her side," Altan smirked.

"This is true. Though the whole thing makes me nervous," Balfour admitted.

"It makes everyone nervous. Even Miss Elphaba, I would suspect. At the end of the day, he is at the top of the food chain and everyone else is beneath him," the Griffin said.

"Very true. I guess the best thing to do is to try and resume some sort of normalcy. It's been a tough stretch," the Lieutenant said.

"Yes it has. The future is in your grasp. Things have changed for the better. Never forget that. Now, we must say goodbye to the King and Queen. Good luck young man. You may see us again soon," Altan smiled.

"Thank you. Good luck to you and your community," Balfour smiled. The Griffins left the stables and he watched them go. A few minutes later, Fiyero walked up to him.

"Everyone headed home?" Balfour asked.

"Yes. I think it is safe to say that everyone is looking forward to things going back to normal," the Prince smiled.

"I was just saying that to Altan," the Lieutenant smiled back.

"So what's up?" Fiyero had a good idea what was going on but he figured he should let his friend tell him.

"Glinda…" Balfour heaved a sigh.

"She's an incredible woman. I was just lucky to have two of them in my life," Fiyero said.

"She is but she explained to me everything the Council had mentioned and how she'd been keeping it from me. I understand why she did given our relationship and what we were trying to achieve but…" the Lieutenant seemed to be completely at a loss.

"Well you guys need to figure it out but maybe coming out as a couple may be enough to satisfy the Council and anyone who questions Glinda. She doesn't need a man to help her lead, per se, what she needs is someone who will have her back, her front, and any other sides that need covering. Now that she's at the top of the political food chain, there will always be someone trying to knock her off of it. Especially those Wizard-loving radicals who I'm sure have not completely disappeared," Fiyero suggested.

"I appreciate it. Now I suppose we should see what the ladies have cooked up for getting the troops from Ix home," Balfour said.

"That should be very interesting," Fiyero chuckled.

To Be Continued…